The temple complex is Angkor Thom (Angkor Thom)

History of Angkor Thom, General information

Angkor Thom translated from Khmer means "big city." It deserves special attention and ranks second in popularity all over the temple complex of Angkorafter Angkor Wat (Angkor Wat), largely due to the Bayon temple – mountain-temple with carved faces.

Angkor Thom is part of the temple complex in Angkor, was built in the style of the Bayon and dedicated to Buddhism.

The city occupies a large area and consisted of more than hundreds of temples and buildings:

• Bayon (Bayon)
• Baphuon (Baphuon)
• The Phimeanakas (Phimeanakas)
• The Royal Palace (Royal Palace)
• The Elephant terrace (Terrace of the Elephants)
• Terrace of the Leper King (Terrace of Leper King)
• TEP Pranam (Pranam Tep)
• Preah Palilay (Preah Palilay)
• Preah Pete (Preah Pithu)
• Prasat Suor Prat (Prasats Suor Prat)
• North and South Cleage (North Kleang and South Kleang) and smaller.

Built Angkor Thom was at the end of XII – early XIII centuries during the reign of Jayavarman VII (Jayavarman VII) 1181 1220 and was the capital of the Khmer Empire until the XV century Earlier this area was the former capital city of Yasodharapura, however, after the attack, the Cham (Cham) in 1177, the city was very badly damaged. Therefore, it was decided to build a new capital, near the destroyed. Therefore, in the territory of Angkor Thom is not all temples built by Jayavarman VII: the Phimeanakas and the Baphuon is left of the former rulers. Jayavarman VII himself was a very revered ruler, he brought to life the subjects a new religion – Mahayana Buddhism, the symbol of worship of which was the Buddha.

The population of the capital was about a million people. The city territory was divided axial roads into four equal parts, each of which had its own purpose. For example, in the North-Western part of the Royal Palace was situated in the North-Eastern side lived the family of the king, his entourage, the priests, the South-Western part given over to a beautiful Park in the South-East was situated the markets and various administrative buildings. Outside the city walls lived the commoners. All the houses and some buildings were built of wood, so until our time they remained, the same fate befell the Royal Palace, it was only the stone base for the Terrace of the Elephants.

The symbolism of Angkor Thom based on the legend of pahtani (sportivnie) of the Ocean of milk, displayed on one of the murals of Angkor Wat (in the southern wing of the Eastern gallery). This legend tells about the creation of the world, which is attended by the gods and demons (sculpture they are located at the gate of Angkor Thom). They are holding the snake wrapped around the sacred mount Meru (identified Bayonne, located in the city center), symbolizing the center of the world, and alternately pull on itself, causing the mountain to move, thus foaming the Ocean, which subsequently secretes nectar of immortality (Amrita).

Structure (plan) of the area

The city of Angkor Thom covers an area of 900 hectares and has the shape of a square, divided into four equal parts axial roads. The center of the intersection is the Bayon. The territory of the city was surrounded by a loose wall with a total length of 12 km, a height of 8 m, on top of the wall ran a road patrol. Before the wall was dug trench width of 100 m and depth 6 m, zapolnyatsya water.

Entrance to Angkor Thom is accessed via private gates, just 5 of them: one from the North (North Gate), South (South Gate) and West (West Gate) and two from the East – the East (East Gate) and Victory Gate (the Victory Gate). Victory gate is focused on the Royal Palace. Gate height is 22-23 m, the width of the roadway underneath - 3.5 m, they are made in the style of the Bayon and have four towers, each tower are carved faces of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (God of parole and compassionate), which was identified Jayavarman VII. In addition to gates on both sides decorated with sculpture, the three-headed elephant with their trunks in the form of columns.

Before the gates lined up in a row the gods (Devatas) to the left and the demons (Asuras) on the right, holding a multi-headed serpent (Naga), symbolizing the bridge between heaven and earth. Gods and demons equally on each side at 54, the gods hold the snake behind the head, and the demons tail. Dragging themselves, they thus result in movement of the sacred mountain (Bayonne).

The presence of Gates Victory has a specific meaning, namely, that the king's army went to battle it was through this gate, thus heralding a successful outcome of the fight. In case of victory the soldiers were coming back through them in case of defeat – through the other (possibly the other East). Through the Eastern gate passed the funeral procession.

Tips for inspection

Among the most important and best preserved ruins and buildings is to provide:

• Bayon (Bayon)
• Baphuon (Baphuon)
• The Phimeanakas (Phimeanakas)
• The Royal Palace (Royal Palace)
• The Elephant terrace (Terrace of the Elephants)
• Terrace of the Leper King (Terrace of Leper King)
• Prasat Suor Prat (Prasats Suor Prat)
• North and South Cleage (North Kleang and South Kleang)

Them then the first thing to look at, the rest is at your discretion and depending on available time.

Very often, group tours start sightseeing Angkor Tom via the South gate (South Gate), preserved better than others, and restored. Then, on motion, the Bayon, the Baphuon, the Terrace of Elephants, Royal Palace, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Leper king, TEP Pranam, Palilay Preah, Preah Pete, Prasat Suor Prat, and Kleang, South Kleang, next - exit to the East through the Victory Gate (the Victory Gate). Or in the opposite direction, if you enter through the Victory Gate and depart through the South gate. It should be noted that the most visited are considered to be gates: South, North and Victory Gate, is preserved sculptures of gods and demons, West and East have survived worse, and therefore, less demand.

Some guides offer you to visit Angkor Thom in several stages. But, in our opinion, the best option is to check it all at once, the time for the examination should allocate half a day.

At the entrance to the Bayon and Baphuon is the input control, in other temples it does not exist.

As the distance from the Angkor Thom from the adjacent temple buildings is pretty decent, as to walk up to it and it is either on the bike or on a motorbike.

The best time for photography is considered to be early morning or dusk, because at this time the temples better lit, and the light is more soft.